The rear bearing that supports the spin basket takes the brunt of the damage from heavy bathroom mats and the great centripetal force generated by the spin cycle. When the bearing fails, the fix can cost $500. There’s also a spider bracket that holds up the spin bracket which often breaks due to the increased weight. The spider bracket repair is also around $500.

Just this week, a customer with a two-year-old LG washer contacted me to report an extremely loud spin cycle due to a worn out rear bearing. He told me he routinely washes large blankets and bathroom mats in his washer.

I felt bad breaking the news to him that because the repair would cost more than $500, it made more sense to replace the washer. Now he needs to come up with around $1,200 for a new washer, and some landfill somewhere gets another bulky item that will take thousands of years to biodegrade. Washing machine manufacturers really should warn buyers not to wash bathroom mats!

What If I’ve Already Laundered My Bathroom Mats?

In case you’ve washed bathroom mats in the past, it may not be too late.

If the play between the plastic tub and metal spin basket is less than 1/8-in., you should still have many years of service left with your washer. You can check this by opening the door and spinning the silver spin basket by hand. It should spin easily and smoothly with little noise.

If you hear a clunking noise as you spin it by hand, then you know it’s too late for your washer. Here’s a simple test to see if the washer is beyond repair:

– Step 1: Grab the big plastic outer tub front lip with one hand. Use your other hand to grab the silver metal spin basket.
– Step 2: Try to rock the spin basket up and down while keeping the plastic spin basket as still as possible. There should be little play.

If you hear a really loud sound while the washer is at high-speed spin, like a jet taking off, that indicates a worn-out rear bearing. Your washer will still work for a few more months, but it will get louder and louder and eventually fail to spin.

How Should I Clean My Bathroom Mats?

My customers often ask,”What am I supposed to do with my dirty blankets and bathroom mats?” I tell them to use a coin laundry’s powerful, robust machines. Or if they keep washing heavy items, be prepared to buy a new washer every two to three years.

Other Items You Should Never Wash at Home

6 following items are too bulky or too heavy for at-home washing machines. Washing these items will greatly reduce your washer’s life span and may break your spin basket in just one washing:

Comforters;
Sleeping bags;
Dog beds;
Drapes;
Weighted blankets;
Rugs.

It’s best to use a coin laundry for these items.